What a day it was, 150 plus girls from 7 schools from across the region turned up to Harristown State High School to compete and challenge, to take home the Youth Girls Cup and the title of champion girl’s AFL school in 2009. Downlands College started as the favourite’s, with a number of very talented girls including Selena Puruntatameri who this year represented Queensland at the national girls competition. While the 2007 and 2008 champions Harristown State High School still had 90% of their team from those golden years, they didn’t possess the fire power of the Pasfield twins to claim the “favourite’s status”. Schools including Toowoomba SHS, Downlands College, Centenary Heights SHS, Harristown SHS, St Saviour’s, St Ursula’s and Our Lady of the Southern Cross College fought it out over the two divisions (Junior and Open) in a very hot 35degree Toowoomba day.
During the day spectators witnessed game after game of hard, tough and physical football. First Aid officer for the day Kyle Smith was run off his feet, with a number of heat stroke incidents, the water tanks and ice buckets were continually being filled. After 3 rounds of football, early favourite’s Downlands College and surprise packets and first time entrants St Ursula’s College led the way with 3 wins from 3 games. With Toowoomba SHS Mt Lofty number one side sitting just behind them in second. Two time champions Harristown SHS were sitting in a comfy third place. While all this was going on, Harristown SHS were dominating the junior division after two rounds winning both by 5goals plus. Though the Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, were outright second, Centenary Heights SHS and St Ursula’s juniors were sitting in third place.
After lunch, it was on, as the two undefeated teams in the open division played off against each other. Downlands verse St Ursula’s, the winner of this match would determine the 2009 Youth Girls Cup winners. The game got off to a scrappy start and St Ursula’s were first on the board with some skillful work from Tahlor Sullivan in the middle, Kailah Rogers ended it with a major. Selena Puruntatameri was running riot in the middle delivering to her forwards time and time again but the St Ursula’s defence was too strong. Going into the half time break St Ursula’s led 2.1 (13) to Downlands 1.1(7), only a goal in it. With some inspiring words at half time the Downlands girls came out firing evening the score to 13 a piece. Five minutes to play and scores were locked, but some Rogers magic saw the under dogs St Ursula’s take the lead 19 to 13. With only seconds to play, Downlands were able to scrape in a 19 all draw and both schools were tied on top of the ladder. With two games still play, both schools needed to win both games but by good margins, as the winner would be decided by the higher percentage, if still tied on points.
The Junior competition came down too, if Our Lady of the Southern Cross College could beat Harristown SHS in the final round robin game, they would make it a three-way tie between themselves, Harristown and Centenary Heights at the top of the junior ladder and percentage would come into play for the winner to be decided. Unfortunately for Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Harristown SHS were the form team of the division and won quite comfortably by a 5 goal margin again. Harristown State High School juniors were declared the winners of the 2009 Youth Girls Cup Junior division and Harristown SHS junior player Amber Jennings was named the junior divisions Most Valuable Player for the competition.
With the final two rounds completed in the open division, both St Ursula’s and Downlands College won both of their last two games and they were both tied on 22points for the day. Toowoomba SHS – Mt Lofty finishing in third place, but the focus was on who was to be named Girls Champion AFL school in 2009. Kailah Rogers from St Ursula’s college was runner up in the MVP on 9votes but it was Downlands College star player Selena Puruntatameri who took out the Most Valuable Player award with a total 14votes for the competition.
The 2009 Girls Champion AFL school title in 2009 went to the first time entrants into an AFL competition, St Ursula’s College. St Ursula’s College finished on a total of 5wins, 1draw and 0 losses for a total for 22points with a percentage of 340.8% and runners up Downlands College finished with 5wins, 1draw and 0 losses for a total of 22points with a percentage of 281.6%.
Thank you to Nic Upton, Matt Waltisbuhl, Josh Smith, Steve Harbort, Keith Webb and Wayne Waltisbuhl for volunteering their time to umpire all the games for the day. A big thank you to Kyle Smith for manning the first aid station in very hot and humid conditions, he was run off his feet all day. Also a huge thank you to all of the participating schools and teachers, with out your involvement the day would not have been such a success and we hope that you continue to participate in the near future.
AFL Queensland would like to thank Harristown State High School for the use of their wonderful facilities at the school and the following schools for participating:
Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Toowoomba State High School (Mt Lofty Campus), Centenary Heights State High School, St Saviour’s College, Downlands College, Harristown State High School and St Ursula’s College.
Well done to the 2009 Champions, bring on 2010
Harristown State High School 2009 Junior Division Winners Youth Girls Cup
St Ursula’s College 2009 Open Division Winners Youth Girls Cup and 2009 Champion Girls AFL School.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the schools or the AFL.
Released: Wednesday 11th November 2009
By:
Jeff Neumann AFL Queensland Development Officer Darling Downs Regions
jneumann@aflq.com.au 0420 310 501 (07) 4632 2994
Last Modified on 10/03/2010 14:51
